2011 Lotus Evora Review
Price: $36,999
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Racetrack-oriented design
- razor-sharp handling
- good fuel economy.
Cons
- Miniscule rear seats
- sacrifices to comfort for performance
- limited rear visibility.
What’s new
The 2011 Lotus Evora acquires a new, more powerful Evora S model, an automatic transmission, heated front seats and optional faux-suede upholstery.
Edmunds says
The 2011 Lotus Evora is the world's only four-seat midengine sports car. Super-sharp handling and impressive acceleration are the order of the day, but the catch is that the rear seats are essentially there for decoration.
For sale near Ashburn, VA
3 listings
- $36,999
- 36,600 miles
- 6cyl manual
- 16 mi away
- Leather Seats
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- Alarm
- Trip Computer
- Rear Bench Seats
Close
Located in Fairfax, VA
- Vehicle History:
- Rebuilt vehicle reported, 5 owners, personal use only
- Features and Specs:
- 21 Combined MPG (18 City/26 Highway)
- Listing Information:
- VIN:
- SCCLMDTU6BHA11534
- Stock:
- A11534
- Certified Pre-Owned:
- No
- Listed since:
- 07-02-2024
- $49,900
- 32,763 miles
- 6cyl manual
- 860 mi away
- Leather Seats
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- Alarm
- Trip Computer
- Rear Bench Seats
Close
Located in Greenbrier, AR
Visit Freeman Motors Greenbrier online at www.freemanmotors.net to see more pictures of this vehicle or call us at 501-912-9336 today to schedule your...
- Vehicle History:
- No accidents, 2 owners, personal use only
- Features and Specs:
- 21 Combined MPG (18 City/26 Highway)
- Listing Information:
- VIN:
- SCCLMDTU6BHA11386
- Stock:
- A11386
- Certified Pre-Owned:
- No
- Listed since:
- 03-06-2026
Vehicle overview
Adding comfort and convenience to a sports car is never an easy task. It's considerably more difficult when applied to Lotus, a niche automaker that turns out some of the most entertaining yet punishing and impractical cars ever made. The 2011 Lotus Evora sets out to do just that by offering more room and refinement without sacrificing too much athleticism in the process.
Though it can hardly be considered spacious, the Evora is considerably larger inside and out than its Elise and Exige counterparts. It also costs about $12,000 more, but for the money you get two rear seats and a much nicer interior. All this makes the Evora the only midengine four-seater on the road, but just barely, because those rear seats are incredibly small.
All of the Evora's added niceties also come at the expense of weight, as this car weighs 50 percent more than the Elise. But at around 3,000 pounds, the Evora is certainly no porker. To deal with the added tonnage, a Toyota V6 replaces the Toyota inline-4 seen in the rest of the current Lotus line. This year, Lotus also goes a step further with the V6 by supercharging it for the new Evora S, and there's an optional automatic transmission as well.
At the end of the day, the 2011 Lotus Evora can keep up with its Elise and Exige stablemates just fine. And it accomplishes this feat with a much quieter cabin and a more comfortable ride quality. If you disregard the rear seats (and really, you should: they're terrible) the Evora's closest competitors all hail from Porsche.
Despite only being offered with two seats, the 2011 Porsche Cayman's midengine layout, exceptional handling and price make it the most obvious alternative. Should you need four actually usable seats, the 2011 BMW M3 offers incredible performance and handling, with an impressive amount of practicality as well. None of these are as engaging as the Evora, though, and with new 2+2 models from Lotus on the horizon, this level of driver engagement might be in jeopardy. We'd suggest acting sooner rather than later if a Lotus Evora is on your wish list.
Performance & mpg
The 2011 Lotus Evora is powered by a mid-mounted 3.5-liter Toyota V6 that produces 276 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The only standard transmission is a traditional six-speed manual, with a push-button six-speed automatic with shift paddles available as an option. The Evora S gains a supercharger and increases power output to 345 hp and 295 lb-ft or torque.
Lotus estimates the 0-60-mph run at around 4.9 seconds for the base Evora, with a stated top speed of 162 mph. The Evora S should hit 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and top out at 172 mph. Just as impressive as the performance numbers is the fuel efficiency; the Evora is expected to achieve 17 mpg city/27 mpg highway for the standard manual, while the sport gearbox should get 1 mpg more in the city.
Safety
The 2010 Lotus Evora is noticeably sparse when it comes to safety equipment. Antilock brakes and traction/stability control are included, but no type of side airbags are available.
Driving
The 2011 Lotus Evora is most at home on tight, twisting roads. Like its smaller Elise and Exige cousins, the Evora knifes through turns with uncommon precision and otherworldly levels of grip. Unlike the Elise, however, the Evora provides a relatively serene cabin with few squeaks and rattles, plenty of sound insulation and a suspension that reduces pothole effects to "normal" car standards.
Power is plentiful throughout the rev range and the transmission features well-spaced gears to make the most of the V6's output. Steering feel is as good as it gets for any car, and the power steering makes maneuvering in tight spots effortless.
Interior
The Evora's interior is quite a departure from the hard-core sports cars in the Lotus lineup, sporting a modern cockpit with rich leather surfaces, carpeting and significantly more creature comforts than what's offered in the Elise and Exige. The relatively few knobs and buttons are within easy reach and are elegantly styled and placed.
Entry and exit from the front seats are much more civilized than in the Elise or Exige, thanks to a shorter and narrower side sill and larger door openings. Once seated, there is significantly more space up front -- enough to comfortably accommodate 6-foot-plus adults. Unfortunately, though, the front wheelwell intrudes on foot space. As a result, the clutch pedal is shifted an inch or so to the right, which can be awkward for some drivers. We had bigger issues with the lack of a functional dead pedal, however. A small ledge that can only fit a few toes is all that is provided, and its placement is painfully uncomfortable.
The rear seats don't fare any better, and are really no more than an upholstered package shelf with seatbelts. Rear space is almost nonexistent, and may even be uncomfortable for small children. In a pinch, these seats might come in handy, but we'd probably opt for the rear-seat delete. Rear visibility is laughable, but fortunately, a rearview camera is available as an option. As for the trunk, Lotus claims the Evora can hold up to 5.7 cubic feet but its narrow shape drastically limits what you can store back there. Strangely enough, the Elise's trunk, which can hold only 4.0 cubes, more easily accommodates bulkier items because of its wider shape.
2011 Lotus Evora models
The 2011 Lotus Evora is a four-seat sports car that is offered in base and Evora S trim levels.
Standard equipment includes cast-aluminum wheels, bi-xenon headlights, heated exterior mirrors, air-conditioning, leather-upholstered front seats, cloth-upholstered rear seats, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, power windows, a leather-wrapped gearshift knob and handbrake, a trip computer and a CD/MP3 player with iPod integration and auxiliary audio jack.
There are three main option groups available. The Premium package adds accent lighting, a center armrest, heated front seats, premium floor mats and leather trim throughout the cabin. The Sport package features selectable sport modes, enhanced throttle response, a higher rpm limit, a rear underbody diffuser, titanium exhaust tips and cross-drilled brake rotors with black-painted calipers. The Technology package includes cruise control, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth and an upgraded stereo with DVD playback, a 7-inch touchscreen display, navigation and a USB port. A SuedeTex option adds faux suede interior trim elements.
Stand-alone options include a sports ratio gearbox, a rearview camera, power-folding mirrors, various wheel options, clear paint protection film and a premium audio system. Buyers can also opt to delete the rear seats in favor of a rear parcel area.
The Evora S receives more power thanks to its supercharged engine, and the powertrain also features an exhaust bypass valve that opens in Sport mode, a heavy-duty clutch and a close-ratio transmission. Also included are all the items from the Sport package along with a sportier suspension tune and a more aggressive rear aero diffuser.

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Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia
$275/mo for Evora 2+0
Evora 2+0
vs
$217/mo
Avg. Compact Car
Reliability
The 2011 Lotus Evora has a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic warranty and 3 recalls. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.
Recalls
3 recalls foundChecking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.
If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).
- Recall Number:
- 14V280000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- 2014/01R,
- Manufactured from:
- 2010-09-01 to 2011-09-30
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 860
- Defect Description:
- Lotus Cars USA, Inc. (Lotus) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Elise and Exige vehicles manufactured from November 2007 to July 2011, and 2011 Evora vehicles manufactured September 2010 through September 2011. The oil cooler hose may detach from its fitting.
- Defect Consequence:
- A detached oil hose could spray oil on a tire, increasing the risk of a crash, or it could spray oil throughout the engine compartment, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Corrective Action:
- Lotus will notify owners, and dealers will replace the oil cooler hose fittings on the Elise and Exige vehicles and will replace the oil cooler hose assemblies on the Evora vehicles, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Lotus at 1-800-245-6887. Lotus' number for this recall is 201401R (Elise/Exige), and 2014/02R (Evora). Note: This recall is an expansion of recalls 11V-510 and 13V-041.
- Recall Number:
- 13V314000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- 2013/03R
- Manufactured from:
- 2010-09-01 to 2011-09-30
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 80
- Defect Description:
- Lotus Cars USA, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2011 Evora supercharged vehicles equipped with a manual transmission and manufactured September 2010 through September 2011. The engine oil cooler hose may chafe and rupture resulting in oil loss.
- Defect Consequence:
- Engine oil may be ejected onto the road or rear wheels which could cause a reduction in vehicle control and potential engine failure, increasing the risk of a crash. Engine oil sprayed onto a heat source may also lead to a vehicle fire.
- Corrective Action:
- The remedy for this recall campaign is still under development. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Lotus at 1-770-476-6564. Lotus' campaign number is 2013/03R.
- Recall Number:
- 12V477000
- Manufactured from:
- 2011-02-01 to 2011-09-01
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 80
- Defect Description:
- Lotus is recalling certain model year 2011 Evora supercharged vehicles manufactured from February 2011 through September 2011, equipped with a three-piece oil feed pipe with a flexible hose section. This engine mounted oil feed pipe, used to supply oil to the engine cylinder head, can rupture.
- Defect Consequence:
- The ruptured pipe can result in oil loss and engine damage, and oil sprayed onto hot engine components may result in a fire.
- Corrective Action:
- Lotus will notify owners, and dealers will replace the oil feed pipe free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided the agency with a notification schedule. Owners may contact Lotus at 1-800-245-6887.
Warranty
3 years / 36,000 miles Basic Warranty- Basic Warranty
- 3 years / 36,000 miles
- Drivetrain Warranty
- 3 years / 36,000 miles
- Rust Warranty
- 8 years / unlimited miles
Lotus Evora Reviews
Owner Reviews
5(100%)
4(0%)
3(0%)
2(0%)
1(0%)
Most Helpful Owner Review
Trending topics
Best Lotus Yet
4.75 out of 5 starsmkovalsky, 01/28/2011
2010 Lotus Evora 2dr Coupe (3.5L 6cyl 6M)
A Lotus you can actually live with everyday-the interior is all leather and fits together properly, no squeaks or rattles.
Instrument cluster is perfect and the touch screen stereo/navigation works well.
Lotus even made it easy to get in and out of, relatively speaking.
Handling is second to none, it is like driving a larger Elise.
Interior is quiet under normal driving and you can … actually hear a phone call using the built in bluetooth.
Exhaust note is quiet at low rpms but becomes a fantastic wail at full throttle.
Handling in the wet is scary at best but it has incredible grip when dry.
Absolute head turner, expect to get a tremendous amount of attention everywhere you go.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2011 Lotus Evora, so we've included review for other years of the Evora since its last redesign.
2011 Evora Features & Specs
2+0
| MSRP (New) Excludes Destination Fee | $64,000 |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | Gas |
| Combined MPG | 21 MPG |
| Cost to Drive | $275/month |
| Seating | 2 seats |
| Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 5.7 cu.ft. |
| Drivetrain | rear wheel drive |
| Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the Evora include:
- Alarm
- Tire Pressure Warning
- Stability Control
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